student nurse interviews for nursing stratagies class

nubyone · Nov 21, 2008

Hey guys, come on .. I really thought one or two of you would have time to answer these simple questions..

NurseLoveJoy88, ASN, RN · Nov 21, 2008

1. Nursing school is what I expected and so much more !!! It requires a lot of time and studying.

2. For me the most challenging thing is actually reading all the required readings. I hate to read the text books, so I basically stick to the ppts. and use the text books as needed.

3.I would advise pre- nursing students to pay attention in AP, because you will see it all through nursing school, pray, buy the test success book for begginning nursing students, get some rest, and look forward to the wonder life of being a nursing student. Its tough, however I really like it. I love to learn. You will have your days of crying and feeling stressed, but those days pass and sometimes you just have to stay focused and look toward the light at the end of the tunnel. Time also flies by ! minutes feels like seconds, hours feels like minutes, days feels like hours, weeks feel like days, and so on. It just feels like yesterday I was ready to jump of a bridge due to being overwhelmed with trying to remember bones and muscles !

nubyone · Nov 21, 2008

Thank you so much for answering. I really appreciate this. I was starting to wonder if I was going to get any answers . So thank you so much for taking the time to answer. Have a great day and good luck in school.

LaceyRN · Nov 21, 2008

1) how has being in nursing school different than what you expected?

i didn't expect the plethora of information to learn in so little time. i also did not anticipate how the high levels of stress would take an emotional toll on me. finally, i expected my nursing instructors to be more positive and nurturing, and less negative and critical.

2) what is the most challenging aspect of being a nursing student for you?

there are many challenges to being a nursing student but if i had to pick the most challenging thing it would be maintaining my composure, confidence and a positive attitude in the face of extreme stress and pressure.

3) what is the best part about being a nursing student for you?

the best part about being a nursing student is knowing you are helping a patient in need, and there's no better feeling than when your patient looks you in the eye with a smile and says "i'm so glad you are here with me. " j

4) what advice would you give to pre-nursing students about what to do before entering nursing program?

before entering nursing school a prospective student should shadow a nurse to see what nursing really is! then research schools and inquire about accreditation, attrition rates and nclex pass rates. i would also highly recommend taking many of the co-requisite non nursing courses prior to entering nursing school, or take them over the summer. these would be the a&p's, micro, english, psych, etc. courses. i have seen too many students struggle when trying to take these classes concurrently with core nursing courses. one last recommendation is to set yourself up financially to not work while in school or at least prepare to cut back to minimum hours working if you want the best opportunity to set yourself up for success in nursing school. j

avahnel, ASN, RN · Nov 22, 2008

1. I did not think we would be thrown on to a floor with just a room number and knowlege of how to do a bath.

2. Smells---and time management. I have two small children and trying to juggle the housework, being a good mom and a good student is hard.

3.I love the patients. Being able to make them smile makes my day.

4. Make sure you have people you can turn to for help and support. A few cheerleaders help. Give yourself a break every once in a while.

nubyone · Nov 23, 2008

Thank you for your answers. I do appreciate it .. I was really starting to freak out about that assignment. I am glad I will have some answers to report on. :nuke:

nubyone · Nov 23, 2008

:redbeathe

Thanks all of you who have answered I am feeling so much better.. thanks to all of you... :nuke: :yeah:

SamanthaGCSN · Nov 23, 2008

Well, I am new to the forum as a member, but have been around reading for quite some time. I would love to help you out for your class!

1) How has being in nursing school different than what you expected?

Nursing school is actually everything I expected and more. The fast pace was expected, but the amount of knowledge we take in such a short amount of time is incredible!

2) What is the most challenging aspect of being a nursing student for you?

To me the most challenging aspect changes depending on what is going on with the program. It tends to be keeping a clean house in the midst of getting all my work done, but the challenges are what makes it more fun and rewarding.

) What is the best part about being a nursing student for you?

A few weeks, pre clinical, I would have told you I wasn't sure yet:bugeyes:, but recently after having worked with the patients directly I can say the amazing feeling that it gives me to put a smile on someone's face that might not have had a smile that day is INDESCRIBABLE!

4) What advice would you give to pre-nursing students about what to do before entering nursing program?

I would say make sure that you have everything together, and learn the process of effective organization BEFORE starting class, you will appreciate it sooo much once the semester starts! And give yourself plenty of time to do what you won't have time to do throughout school:chuckle

Hope it helps!

RNDreamer · Nov 23, 2008

1) How has being in nursing school different than what you expected?

It's what I expected it to be, tons of work with many exams & quizzes in between.

2) What is the most challenging aspect of being a nursing student for you?

Being confident in what I know. I constantly doubt myself during exams, which leads me to lose valuable points.

3) What is the best part about being a nursing student for you?

Knowing things that lay people don't know. (how drugs work, patho of diseases, etc.).

4) What advice would you give to pre-nursing students about what to do before entering nursing program?

Don't shrug off Developmental psych. It comes back in NS. Also, pay attention to anatomy and physiology (obviously). Learn it, understand it. It has definitely helped during my pharmacology class. Start paying more attention to drug commercials.

Byaggha · Nov 23, 2008

1. Like others, I wasn't really expecting 'here's a patient, go do AM care' after only being taught how to bathe someone on a lab dummy the week previous. It was a bit of a wake-up shock. Also, I did not expect my free time to so entirely disappear - I went from not really needing to study to spending a lot of time on it during first semester. But the studying does pay off, so do it, even if you never want to see the textbooks again! :)

2. Actually believing that I know how to apply my clinical skills to a real, live patient. For some reason, it's been difficult for me to get that through my head, no matter how well I perform in practice lab. I'm always jittery when I'm with real, live patients, afraid I'll screw it up.

3. Connecting with patients has been by far the most awesome thing about it so far. :3 Being able to walk into a resident's room at a long term care facility in my first semester, and see the woman's eyes light up made all my exhaustion worth it.

4. Advice? If you don't know how to study and take good notes, learn. You're going to need both in spades. Organization and time management are key. Also, look up some test taking strategies - it sounds kind of silly, but those things can make all the difference on a rough test/NCLEX (though I've only heard about the latter, I'm just going into my second year now!). Oh, and remember to take some time and relax every now and then! If you don't, the stress can and will get to you. It nailed me earlier this semester, and believe me, that was not fun.